On the island of Ntinos in Greece there was an old nunnery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, The Lady of The Angels.One Sunday an old nun called Pelagia was resting in her cell. As she lay sleeping, an unknown, beautiful woman came to her in a vision.She told her to get up,go and find Stamatello Kagadi "and tell him that in the field of Anthony Doxara there is an Icon of mine which has been hidden for years.Tell him to find it and build my church there."

Pelagia was frightened and out of humility did not listen to the command.A week later the lady came back again, and still Pelagia did not listen.She came a third time on the 29/7/1822.The lady asked Pelagia why she was not listening, and told her she was the Virgin Mary.At this Pelagia fell to the ground prostrate.From this time, Pelagia felt like a different person, as if she was in another world. Her face shone.The next day Pelagia told her vision to the Mother Superior and she went to find Stamatello Kagadi.The Church asked Mrs Doxara for permission to dig in her land. She refused, saying that as her husband was away in Constantinople, she could not authorise this.That night she had a terrible dream. She was told that unless she gave permission she would die.The next day she not only gave permission but gave the land to the church.

The Archbishop Gabriel invited all the inhabitants of the island to begin the excavations.Many workers came. Digging started in September 1822.After 2 months the digging stopped.No icon was found.Only the remnants of an old Church were found.It was at that time that a plague fell on the island. Many died.Many believed it was the wrath of God on the people because they had stopped the digging.

Both the wife and sister of Stamatello Kagadi became seriously ill.He begged the Bishop to ask the people to start the digging again.They did and the foundation of another church was found.On 30/1/1823, the day dedicated to the Three Hierarchs, the Icon of the Annunciation was found in 2 halves.One half depicted the Virgin Mary and the other half depicted the Archangel Gabriel. The workman who found the icon put the two pieces together and they were immediately joined.There was no damage to the images on the icon.

The church was eventually built on that site. Many flock to Ntinos on 25 March and 15th August every year.Ntinos has become one of the greatest places of worship for Orthodox Christians. The Virgin Mary has performed many miracles on this site.Many crawl up the hill to where the church is located, on their hands and knees,giving thanks to the Mother of God for some miracle she has performed for them, or to beg for her intercession and help.

Panayia mou Tiniakia
Me ta bolla kantilia
Filaye to bethaki mou
Na sou ta kamo hilia

(Childs prayer when going to sleep)

Miracles of the Mother of God:

On 15 August 1969 six miracles occured in one day on Ntinos. Twenty one year old Vassiliki Angelidou had been paralysed in the lower part of her body from an accident.Once the Icon of The Virgin Mary passed over her head she stood up and walked. Similarly a 4 year old boy called Arg.Mamali stood up and walked once the Icon passed over him. Eugenia Vassilaki was cured of deafness. Also another deaf girl and a blind girl were cured,and a paralysed child walked again. All these miracles were publicised in the Greek Newspaper Ethnos on 16/8/69 and 18/8/69.

A ship was heading on its way to Spain when it hit a reef. At the place of impact, a hole appeared in the side, and water was coming in. The sailors desperately tried to stop the water coming in , but they could not. They all cried out to the Virgin Mary for help and she heard them. The water stopped coming in unexplainably. When they reached Spain, they saw a huge shark had forced its way into the hole to stop the water coming in. As a dedication to the Mother of Our Lord, the crew made a silver ship with a gold fish that was left in the Church of The Evankellistria.

Photographs of the 15th August Celebrations in Ntinos